Thinkbux a site to avoid

@emeraldisle (13139)
United States
September 15, 2008 4:36pm CST
I have been a member of many PTC sites but only a few of the "bux" sites that have become very popular. The first one kept upping the payout so people wouldn't get paid and I avoided them afterwards but then I thought well I'll give another one a try. I joined Thinkbux, I read through the terms of service and the FAQ page before doing so. When I joined it stated on those along with the home page that they payout via Paypal and AlertPay. Just so everyone knows I will not join if it's AlertPay only because AlertPay costs to transfer money to my bank where as Payapl doesn't. Why should I lose money if I don't have to. Also when I joined the amount needed to reach was only $2. Just before I reached that amount they upped it to $5. I figured ok I'll keep going and see what happens. I finally reached the $5 mark and went to cash out. I couldn't. The only way I could cash out via Paypal is if I bought a premium account. I double checked the current news, the terms of service and the FAQ page, there is nothing on there about this. I wrote to them and told them this. That by what I signed up for I should be able to use Paypal. After several letters they finally admitted they needed to update the TOS and the FAQ page but basically unless I wanted to pay for the privileged I couldn't use Paypal. I wrote back letting them know that what they are doing is called "Bait and Switch", which is an illegal practice in most countries that I know of. That is where you offer one thing and then turn around and say that to get that you actually have to pay more or get something of lesser value then what was promised. Their response: "Listen, i dont have time to argue with you. If you don't like our service then please stop continuing here on ThinkBux but if you still want to be with us i suggest you upgrade and cashout via paypal. if not cashout via alertpay. its not like we're not going to give you the money." (this is a direct copy from their response) Now why should I think they will pay me since they have already shown a preference for fraudulent activity? I would recommend others to avoid them. Now they might be willing to pay but I personally wouldn't trust them for long.
2 people like this
6 responses
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Sure sounds like a big waste of time. I will stay clear of them. Thanks for telling all of us about this scam.
2 people like this
@Jxbutler (35)
15 Sep 08
If the worst comes to the worst, just cashout via alertpay and reinvest the money elsewhere.
2 people like this
@myliezl0903 (2726)
• Philippines
16 Sep 08
hi there! i am also one of the active member in thinkbux., and i'm on my way to reach the minimum payout., i just hope they will pay us soon ., have a nice day ahead!
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
16 Sep 08
Good luck with them. I wouldn't hold my breath on them paying out but you never know perhaps they will for you.
@pau_79 (790)
• Philippines
21 Sep 08
What you said is true, but beforehand we all knew they can change TOS anytime even without warning but they should have been more honest from the start. Thinkbux used to be one of my favorites because they used to pay within 24 hours even standard but now its 30 days. I requested cashout in the first week of Sep I just hope they pay soon.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
21 Sep 08
You're right they do have the option to change the TOS at any point but until they do they should have to honor it. According to them they had this change in effect for some time and it could be seen on the cash out/ convert page, which you can't see until you join and then once you have who goes there until they do want to cash out? Just so you know that now paypal has blocked them forever according to their news on their site but surprise surprise their TOS still says you can get paid via paypal. They also have in there that you have to have "valid PayPal and AlertPay address in order to register". Why you'd need both to begin with I don't know. Good luck with getting paid.
@070707 (302)
• Indonesia
6 Oct 08
Wow... It's kind of lesson for me.
@melvztab (124)
• Philippines
11 Dec 08
it is probably a scam. you upgrade, you pay right? then they are probably scamming more.